Abstract

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN SOME MORAL-RELATED VARIABLES AMONG THE IRANIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Gender difference of moral reasoning was one the subject of studies in moral psychology. But study the gender difference in other moral-related variables were less studied. The aim of present study was the study of gender differences in some prosocial behavior (public, compliant, emotional, dire, anonymous and altruistic behaviors) and some other moral-related variables (symbolization and internalization of moral identity, empathy and religiosity) after controlling the effect of social desirability. Data from 627 the Iranian undergraduate students that was derived from two previous studies was used. The results showed that there is female superiority in compliant, emotional, anonymous and altruistic prosocial behavior and also internalization of moral identity, empathy and religiosity. There was also male superiority in public prosocial behavior. The study totally confirms the superiority of females in moral-related variables but because of low effect size, the present study can be considered as a confirmation of gender similarities hypothesis.